Nava

Using prepared polenta and vegan sausage makes for a nice change-of-pace stuffing for fall and winter meals, and it’s great for the Thanksgiving table,too. Adapted from Vegan Holiday Kitchen by Nava Atlas. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→

The best antidote for shorter days and cooler nights is comfort food! These hearty fall meals will make you glad that fall has arrived. Above, Classic Veggie Chili with Lots of Variations isn’t revolutionary, but a plant-based repertoire wouldn’t be complete without it. For a classic combo, serve with Corn Kernel Cornbread and a colorful salad. Leftovers make a great next day portable lunch, and can be frozen in single-serving portions for later use. more→

Who doesn’t love a classic peanut butter cookie? It’s even better when you make them vegan. The original recipe contains egg and lots of sugar, but those are easy swaps to make. First, replace the egg with applesauce, which in turn gives the cookie the extra sweetness needed to cut the sugar in half. We’ve been enjoying using einkorn flour for baking — it makes baked goods really tender and naturally lower in gluten, but these cookies are great made with spelt or whole wheat pastry flour. Make sure your peanut butter isn’t too dense so it’s easy to blend with the other ingredients. This Makes about 30 cookies. Cut the recipe in half for a smaller batch. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→

In the northeast U.S., where I live, fall arrived on the calendar, and just like that, the long and overly hot summer was a thing of the past. Crisp days and cool nights couldn’t have arrived a moment too soon. But, recognizing that other parts of the country and world are still under a blanket of heat, we offer a week’s worth of transitional dishes that will make everyone happy. They’re warming yet light, easy on your schedule and budget. No thick soups and stews yet — but they too are around the corner. Pasta with Hearty Lentil and Spinach Sauce, above, is seasonal and substantial, and might just become your go-to plant-powered pasta dish. Leftovers are great for a Thermos lunch the next day. Complete the meal with crusty bread and a simple salad.more→

I’m happy to announce that my friend and colleague Victoria Moran, vegan advocate extraordinaire (and occasional VegKitchen contributor), is one of the 5 female finalists in PETA’s “Sexiest Vegan over 50” contest. No matter what you think of PETA (or contests), this is an amazing platform for the winner to spread the word on the benefits of a plant-based, cruelty-free diet.

Two superfoods — quinoa and maca root — combine in a breakfast bowl that will fuel you for hours. Learn more about the benefits of maca and try another variation on a quinoa breakfast bowl if you like this one. No maca? No worries, this will be yummy and comforting if you choose to omit it. Photos by Evan Atlas. more→

Strips of high-protein seitan (cooked wheat gluten) make a great filling for these easy vegan seitan fajitas. What’s great about fajitas is that everyone participates in creating his or her own meal.It’s less work for the cook, fun for everyone at the table, and everyone can tailor the ingredients to suit personal tastes. Serve with rice dish, or potatoes or sweet potatoes, or keep it super-simple with salsa and chips. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→

This late summer salad is perfect for using ripe tomatoes and peaches of the garden or farm market variety—not the kind that come with stickers on them! Fresh local tomatoes and peaches seem to reach their peak of flavor at the same time, and are a surprisingly compatible duo. Walnuts or pecans add a surprising twist to this easy salad. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→